Dallas Cowboys' draft plans coming into focus; Mendenhall to visit
by Brandon Worley on Mar 27, 2008 12:32 PM CDT
in News
19 comments
Seven more names have been added to the group of players coming to Valley Ranch next month according to the DMN.
Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett tops the latest group of NFL prospects who will visit Valley Ranch next month to meet with Dallas Cowboys officials, according to the players' representatives.
The other Valley Ranch-bound players are: OT Duane Brown and CB Brandon Flowers of Virginia Tech; Southern Cal LB Keith Rivers; Missouri WR Will Franklin; Iowa CB Charles Godfrey; and Oregon RB Johnathan Stewart, who is coming off toe surgery.
The two notable names on that list are Brandon Flowers and Jonathan Stewart. Some have predicted that Stewart will drop in the draft due to his injury and would be prime for the picking by the Cowboys at #22. The Cowboys could land a steal as Jonathan Stewart was not certain to be available to the Cowboys before his surgery.
Martellus Bennett is an interesting case since it would seem the Cowboys are set at TE with Jason Witten. Yet Anthony Fasano has yet to live up to his full potential and is coming off surgery, so the Cowboys could be thinking depth behind Witten. I say let touchdown machine Tony Curtis step up!
Update [2008-3-27 13:53:27 by Dave Halprin (Grizz)]: The DMN blog has added two more names to the list. One is a biggie - Rashard Mendenhall. Plus, a RB with rising stock - Chris Johnson - will also be dropping by Valley Ranch.
Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall and East Carolina RB Chris Johnson have been scheduled in to visit Valley Ranch during the third week of April.
Here's the full list of invitees from the DMN blog:
UNLV ILB Beau Bell
Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett
Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown
Arizona CB Antoine Cason
Texas RB Jamaal Charles
Missouri WR Will Franklin
Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers
Iowa CB Charles Godfrey
Indiana WR James Hardy
East Carolina RB Chris Johnson
Arkansas RB Felix Jones
Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly
Troy CB Leodis McKelvin
Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall
Indiana CB Tracy Porter
USC LB Keith Rivers
Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
[END UPDATE]
The Star-Telegram talks about how these player invitations could give a hint at the Cowboys' draft plans. The list of names coming to Valley Ranch is dominated by receivers, cornerbacks. It's no secret what areas the Cowboys need to address in the draft and this list reflects that.
An interesting little note in a story about UConn's pro day:
The impressive numbers he posted at the combine brought notable NFL personnel - including former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo, who now is the team's secondary coach - to Storrs to watch [UConn cornerback Tyvon] Branch participate in cornerback drills.
Branch could be one the Cowboys target for depth at cornerback on the second day of the draft.
BTB regular goodjobtimmyheresabluestar (whew!) has a great diary about the contract Marcus Trufant signed with Seattle.
I think the Cowboys will look to score a deal with Terence Newman somewhere between Asante Samuel's and Trufant's. Newman in turning 30, but still has plenty of years left in him. Just don't look for him to score a "hometown discount."
Yet one more mock draft, courtesy of Pat Kirwan at NFL.com
22. Dallas Cowboys - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
There's always speculation the Cowboys are packaging their picks to move up for Darren McFadden. They can stay right where they are and satisfy two big needs, corner and wide receiver. The run on either spot earlier in the draft will determine which area they address first. Rodgers-Cromartie would be an excellent compliment to Terence Newman, but he might have to start his career as the nickel back. A 4.33-second 40-yard dash and size make him a steal at this spot.28. Dallas Cowboys - Desean Jackson
Jerry Jones and Co. take the receiver/returner who can replace Terry Glenn and help open up the offense. Jackson's size and some injury history should make him available at this point in the draft.
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Tyvon Branch
the kid ran a 4.31 in the 40 at the combine. Wow! Also is a good return guy and special teams player. Interesting.
by Dave Halprin on Mar 27, 2008 12:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
could have character issues, however
if you're going to draft guys with potential character issues, you might as well do it the 2nd day so it won't cost as much if they get suspended.
Was arrested in May of 2005 when he and some teammates shot out a car window with a B.B. gun
by Terry on Mar 27, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're a saint Terry
It's apparent from how you relentlessly point out "character issues". I wonder how many dead bolts are on your front door lol
by sublimezg on Mar 27, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
far from a saint however I've never been arrested
and it really hasn't been that difficult at all, the way Pacman makes it seem. Just don't break the law, seems very easy, at least to me.
As a fan, if you're not concerned about character issues with first high rd draft picks, then you either really don't care about the team you root for or you're just ignorant to cold hard reality which is that Roger Goodell is in charge of the NFL now and he has made it crystal clear that being arrested and charged with crimes will not be tolerated.
I just happen to really care about the Cowboys and want their draft choices to become productive players, not suspended for stupid behavior off the field.
by Terry on Mar 27, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and did you know if it was his bb gun ?
did he actually have the gun in his hand ?..I hardly consider that making him a character problem...he was a snot nosed freshman, playing with the boys...if you cared to readd the rest of Scott Wrights's scouting report, He stated that he's got a geat football IQ, and was a team leader...that's what i look for in a player....not what he did as a juvenile..He's a 5th-6th round consideration as it is...and from what it sounds like, he has the measurables and physical aspects to his game that he may be developed as a strong safety prospect, and special teamer, to take K Davis' spot....which i'm all for...
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 27, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and like I said, I have no problem
drafting guys with potential character issues late because losing them is not a big deal.
Of course I read about the football IQ and thats all well and good, but what good will that IQ do for us if he can't play because he's now shooting a real gun or he's around when something bad happens.
I've had it up to here with Derek Ross types, I really don't want anymore. Say what you want about Parcells, but I loved the way he would just take any player off his draft board with character issues. Thats the way it should be done.
by Terry on Mar 27, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cricket had "character issues too"
and he turned out pretty well for us. Randy Edsall, the coach at UCONN is a very high character guy, and he puts his footprint all over his players, especially the ones with enough talent to play at the next level.
Here is a link that gives some detail about Cricket's problems with academia. At one point he was sleeping in his car and showering in the practice facility in order to get a scholarship.
UCONN is showing it can produce quality pro's in football, not just basketball, and I would love to see the cowboys take a second day shot on Branch, and possibly on Larry Taylor, the receiver/return specialist they got. He's small, but if we wasted a fourth round pick on Skyler Green, surely we could wager a seventh round pick on Taylor, the Big East's all time leader in punt return yards.
by CTBoy on Mar 28, 2008 6:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he's an excellent return man...and one to look at
Branch was going to make my updated mock in the 5th or 6th round area....Need to wait to see what developes with Pacman...I also had stated that WR Will Franklin would be a great pick up in round 4, as I had him on my last mock........glad to see my Cowboys are on the same wave lengths....I'd love both those guys.
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 27, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now we got Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Johnson
coming on pre-draft visits. The Cowboys sure are covering the lists of RB's and CB's in the early part of the draft.
by Dave Halprin on Mar 27, 2008 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Mendenhall, thats awesome news!
by Terry on Mar 27, 2008 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What some are thinking
I'll stick to my story, LET NEWMAN WALK. No way would I pay him $10 million per season or give him a $20 million signing bonus. He's not a gamechanger or ballhawk. Plus his age is a huge matter. Draft a corner or two, trade for Pacman and let Newman get his inflated contract somewhere else.
This is little harsher than I would've put it, but that's the thinking of alot of posters.
Newman wants to get paid and I'm afraid it will be somewhere else. I don't agree at all in over paying for an aging CB.
We need to set ourselves up this season through the draft or trades because it's very possible there could be two different CB's starting on this team next season.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 27, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
State taxes
I unfortunately don't remember the article, but some journalist pointed out that because Washington state has no state income tax (news to me), Trufant's deal gives him the same take-home pay as Samuel's or Hall's deals. Texas also has no state income tax, so that is one slight advantage for Newman vs. the cap.
Now, I agree that age is an issue here. If Newman wants a 5-6 year deal, that would be very tough, though I think most would agree he is worth the market rate of $9m. It will come down to length. The question is if there's a team that will give him the years that we won't. That remains to be seen. And, worst-case, we can always tag him.
We'll see, but we can certainly help ourselves out flexibility wise by bringing in Pacman and drafting a top CB.
by grapejoos on Mar 27, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mock
I'll take that mock all day.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Mar 27, 2008 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Would DRC fall that far?
Of course I'd take him in a heartbeat, but we're not the only ones enamored with the guy.
by Nelson on Mar 27, 2008 1:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think a lot of fans have to understand
that DRC played at the Div A-II level where he wasn't exactly dominant. He has climbed up the draft boards based soley on the senior bowl and combine performances.
I think a lot of teams will have McKelvin, Jenkins and Talib ranked just as high on their boards and it comes down on the preferences of each team and how much their scouts really like the kid.
by Terry on Mar 27, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
30 days until the draft
Cue the celebration music.
by APerfectStar on Mar 27, 2008 1:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If the draft pans out that way
I would be beyond elated. Those are two players you can potentially build a unit around. Pick up a Rb in the 2nd or 3rd round and I'm bouncing off the walls.
by BudLight on Mar 27, 2008 2:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Draft a TE?
Doesn't seem to make sense ... unless Jerry is offering a TE as part of the package to Tennessee for PacMan. Does Tennessee have a TE?
by BigE on Mar 27, 2008 3:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Martellus Bennett? Are you kidding??
by groves on Mar 27, 2008 4:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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